Primary Source:
A primary source is an original object or document -- the raw material or first-hand information. Primary sources include historical and legal documents, eye witness accounts, results of an experiment, statistical data, videos, and art objects.
Secondary Source:
A secondary source is something written about a primary source. Secondary sources include comments on, interpretations of, or discussions about the original material.
*Sometimes a secondary source may also be a primary source.
Garry Wills' book about Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, for example, can be looked at as both a secondary and a primary source. It depends on how you are using the source and the nature of your research. If you are researching Abraham Lincoln, the book would be a secondary source because Wills is offering his opinions about Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. If you are writing a book review of Lincoln at Gettysburg, the book becomes a primary source, because you are commenting, evaluating, and discussing Garry Wills' ideas.
SUBJECT
PRIMARY
SECONDARY
TERTIARY
Art and Architecture
Painting by Manet
Article critiquing art piece
ArtStor database
Chemistry/Life Sciences
Einstein's diary
Monograph on Einstein's life
Dictionary on Theory of Relativity
Engineering/Physical Sciences
Patent
NTIS database
Manual on using invention
Humanities
Letters by Martin Luther King
Web site on King's writings
Encyclopedia on Civil Rights Movement
Social Sciences
Notes taken by clinical psychologist
Magazine article about the psychological condition
Interviews: Interview that you conduct:
Person interviewed (Last name, First name). Type of interview (personal, phone, email). Date.
Smith, John. Personal interview. 28 May 2008.
Online Transcript (Interview):
Name of author, performer, or other key individual. Interviewed by First, Last name. "Title of transcript." Title of program. Name of network. Date of broadcast. Transcript. Date of access <Database service URL>.
Flatow, Ira. Interviewed by Jim Leher. "A Dire Prediction for the Future of Sea Life." Talk of the Nation. Nat'l Public Radio. 10 Nov. 2006. Transcript. 24 Nov. 2006 < http://elibrary.bigchalk.com>.
Podcast:
Name of author, host or producer. "Title of podcast." Date of podcast. Podcast. "Title of Podcast show." Title of larger site. Date of access <Web address/URL>.
Online image:
Image creator's last name, first name. "Title or description of image." Format (photo, cartoon, drawing). Date of image. Title of larger site. Name of institution or organization sponsoring the site. Website publication date. Date image viewed <Web address/URL>.
"The Greatest Saturn Portrait...Yet." Photo. 5 October 2005. Views of the Solar System. NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute. 1 March 2007 <www.solarviews.com>.
A primary source is an original object or document -- the raw material or first-hand information. Primary sources include historical and legal documents, eye witness accounts, results of an experiment, statistical data, videos, and art objects.
Secondary Source:
A secondary source is something written about a primary source. Secondary sources include comments on, interpretations of, or discussions about the original material.
*Sometimes a secondary source may also be a primary source.
Garry Wills' book about Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, for example, can be looked at as both a secondary and a primary source. It depends on how you are using the source and the nature of your research. If you are researching Abraham Lincoln, the book would be a secondary source because Wills is offering his opinions about Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. If you are writing a book review of Lincoln at Gettysburg, the book becomes a primary source, because you are commenting, evaluating, and discussing Garry Wills' ideas.
Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY. http://www.thefullwiki.org/Primary_source
Examples of Primary Sources:
A Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Source Guide can also be found here:
http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/primary-sources.html
Video: Primary/Secondary Sources
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHTtpYYbhm0
Primary Sources Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H9PVQTD
<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H9PVQTD">Click here to take survey</a>
Online Quiz:
To test your understanding of the difference between Primary and Secondary sources you can take this online quiz:
http://www.umassd.edu/specialprograms/info_lit/quiz_ps.html
MLA Citation Guide for Selected Primary Sources
Citation Examples
Interviews: Interview that you conduct:
Person interviewed (Last name, First name). Type of interview (personal, phone, email). Date.
Smith, John. Personal interview. 28 May 2008.
Online Transcript (Interview):
Name of author, performer, or other key individual. Interviewed by First, Last name. "Title of transcript." Title of program. Name of network. Date of broadcast. Transcript. Date of access <Database service URL>.
Flatow, Ira. Interviewed by Jim Leher. "A Dire Prediction for the Future of Sea Life." Talk of the Nation. Nat'l Public Radio. 10 Nov. 2006. Transcript. 24 Nov. 2006 <
http://elibrary.bigchalk.com>.
Podcast:
Name of author, host or producer. "Title of podcast." Date of podcast. Podcast. "Title of Podcast show." Title of larger site. Date of access <Web address/URL>.
"First Coed College." 7 Sept. 2006. Podcast. "Profile America." Podcast.net. 24 Oct. 2006 <http://www.podcast.net>.
Online image:
Image creator's last name, first name. "Title or description of image." Format (photo, cartoon, drawing). Date of image. Title of larger site. Name of institution or organization sponsoring the site. Website publication date. Date image viewed <Web address/URL>.
"The Greatest Saturn Portrait...Yet." Photo. 5 October 2005. Views of the Solar System. NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute. 1 March 2007 <www.solarviews.com>.